Study at a US university if you want to be sure of a job

Data from Emerging, an India HR consultancy, shows seven of the top 10 universities most likely to put graduates into work are based in the US – with California Institute of Technology at the top of the list.

The information, published by Times Education, measures which universities the recruiters at top companies think are best at preparing students for the workplace.

Research engineer Dan Guevarra, front, and staff scientist Cheng Xiang at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Bloomberg

Analysts at Times Education said it was no surprise CalTech had done so well, as students are admitted primarily on the basis of strong maths, science and engineering skills. That said, CalTech has one of the smallest student cohorts, with just over 1000 graduates and 1200 post graduates a year.

The Australian National University comes 21st in the rankings, one notch higher than its position in 2016. Times Education said ANU had topped the nation, with 95 per cent of broadfield research ranked above world standard.

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There are three Chinese universities in the top 50, of which Shanghai Jiao Tong University had made a spectacular leap to the No. 30 slot, up from the 53rd position in 2016. But the leading Asian institution, in the No. 9 slot, was the 140-year-old University of Tokyo, which has a substantial research arm and exchange programs with 450 other universities.

Britain has slipped in the employability rankings, with Oxford University dropping out of the top 10 for employability – possibly owing to a Brexit effect, according to the report's authors.

Critics of the Emerging ranking say it relies heavily on value judgments by recruiters, rather than actual employment numbers from companies.

Universities Australia deputy chief executive Catriona Jackson pointed out Australian universities featured in 5 of the top 61. Others include Sydney University in the 48th slot, and the University of Melbourne at 50.

Among domestic universities the Australian National University ranked 21st on the global list of "employability" of graduates. Adam McLean

Ms Jackson pointed out a government survey of graduates found more than 90 per cent were considered "well prepared" by employers.

At the same time the survey was released, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand criticised the education sector for failing to prepare potential employees.

In The Future of Talent, CA ANZ said educators fell down on teaching critical thinking, collaboration and what they called ethical understanding.